Chapter 3
Chapter Three
GRIFFIN
Itossed and turned all night, making myself sick over what Juliette must think of me. Probably that I was some kind of joke. I actually said a prayer, asking God to wipe me from her mind. Just let her forget I existed, and I’d pretend we’d never met.
Thank heavens he didn’t grant it.
All morning, as we practiced our runway walk, Juliette stayed quiet. Focused. Apparently, when she worked, she locked in. I could appreciate that. Maybe it was for the best.
The less I got to know her, the easier it would be to get over her. Yes, over. So what if I’d only met her twelve hours ago? I was almost positive I’d had a love at first sight moment.
Falling in love with a supermodel? Might’ve just been at the top of the list of idiotic things I’d done. But that was the thing about love at first sight. You don’t get to choose. Your heart just does it. And mine had chosen her.
So. Yeah. Keeping her distance now was just a trial run for the emotional crash that was coming when I left Phoenix today.
I swear, from my lips to Satan’s ears…
Minutes before we had to walk the runway, someone tapped me on the shoulder. “Griffin,” Juliette said, panicked.
Even though I’d been with her off and on all morning, I still braced for the hit I was about to take by just looking at her.
As expected, adrenaline buzzed through my stomach and down my legs.
The air froze in my lungs. In her runway dress, she was…
breathtaking. Albeit, her neck was craned at a funny angle.
“Can you help? My hair’s stuck in the hook,” she said, cheeks flushed.
“Oh, dang.” I chuckled. “You bet.”
From this angle, I couldn’t imagine there was anything to hook.
The front of her sleeveless, see-through mini slip dress had an overlay of white fringe that barely covered her lady parts.
It was more angelic swimsuit cover-up than actual dress, and I fought the internal pull to wrap my arms around her and hide her from everyone’s view.
“Thanks.” She turned to reveal an open zipper that ran from mid-butt—heaven help me—to the bottom of her shoulder blades.
She swept her remaining hair over one shoulder, offering me an uninterrupted view of her entire back.
And what a back it was. I shouldn’t have been surprised.
You don’t become the face of the brand unless you’re a twenty-five out of ten.
“Ah,” I said, spotting the problem. “You’ve got about ten strands of hair that are now part of that hook. You okay if I cut them?”
“Sure. But don’t get scissor-happy.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I jogged off for a pair of sewing scissors and came right back. With one careful snip, she was free.
“Since you’re already back there…” She glanced over her shoulder and gave me a sheepish smile. “Would you mind zipping me up? It’ll save me from dislocating a shoulder.”
“Uh, sure.” I tried to keep my eyes up top, but I had to glance down long enough to find the zipper.
And yes, I caught sight of the two small dimples at the bottom of her spine and the gentle curve of her hips.
My heart kicked against my ribs, and my mutinous brain begged me to complete the task as slowly as humanly possible.
But if anybody knew playing with fire would get you burned, it was me. My fingers trembled as I yanked the zipper up in one swift motion. Then, with every ounce of discipline I possessed, I forced myself to step back.
“All done,” I said. “You should be good to go.”
She turned to face me, hair cascading over her shoulders, neck straightened out. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I don’t know about the dresses.” Her gaze stayed anchored on my Adam’s apple like she was too nervous to look me in the eye.
“But I think Declan’s going to get rich off his suits.
” She reached up and straightened my tie the same way my mom did for my dad.
It sent a bolt of lightning through my gut.
She brushed a piece of lint off my lapel.
“After everyone sees you today, they’ll be ordering like mad.
And you’ll get all the gigs. Look out, GQ. ” She started to step away.
I don’t know how it happened—maybe I’d been possessed by a much more confident man—but I caught her by the elbow and leaned down to whisper in her ear, “I think the dresses are going to do very well too.”
Her breath hitched, and when I stepped back, her cheeks were dusted with a pink that wasn’t there a moment ago. Had I just made Juliette Serrant blush?
Growing up a Dupree, I’d spent my entire life being a supporting character. But knowing I had the power to make her forget how to breathe felt like the world had finally tilted in my favor.
“Griffin,” a hairstylist said behind me. I turned to face her. She shielded my forehead, aiming a can of hairspray. She’d already emptied an entire can into my hair, but I let her do her thing.
When I turned back, Juliette was gone. I was equal parts disappointed and relieved.
My head and my heart were locked in a brutal standoff.
My heart wanted to follow her around like a puppy dog and try to reproduce that blush.
But I restrained myself. In less than an hour, I’d be leaving here, and I’d probably never see her again.
Two minutes before go time, I walked to the edge of the room, out of everyone’s way, and said a quick prayer, literally, asking not to embarrass myself and to do Declan a solid here. He’d poured his whole heart and a hefty chunk of savings into this line.
When I opened my eyes, Juliette was standing in front of me, her outfit complete with silver heels. Her hair was slicked back into an updo, and her right cheek had been bedazzled with rhinestones. With silvery-pink eyeshadow and matching lipstick, she was even more stunning than usual. Good grief.
She studied me, head angled to one side. “Were you praying?”
“Yes.” I cleared my throat. “I always say a quick prayer before I do any modeling work.” I let out a nervous chuckle. “Any work, really. I need all the help I can get.”
“Places,” Declan whispered, waving us over. He crossed his fingers and then crossed himself. “Please don’t let anyone stumble.”
Twenty minutes later, the show was over, and Juliette and I were back in the dressing room gathering our things.
The clothing line had been a hit, and now I was free to go home, explore the Strip, or get an In-N-Out burger.
Whatever my heart desired. But I had other plans.
This was what I’d been waiting for since the day I agreed to come.
I changed out of the suit and hung it back up. Then I pulled on a pair of shorts and grabbed my bag. My chest ached as I glanced over to give Juliette one last look.
She was still in her dress, watching me. “Are you in a hurry?”
I nodded once. “I’ve got a three-hour drive to Zion National Park.” I thought maybe she’d show some disappointment that I was leaving. I knew I was.
Instead, her face lit up. “Are you hiking the Narrows?”
“Yes.” I smiled. “This afternoon. I’ve never done it.”
She bounced on her toes. “Would you mind if I came along?”
What…?
Who…?
How…?
I blinked, my brain completely blanking. “Uh…”
She held her hands up. “I just… I’ve always wanted to go.
” There was a wistfulness in her expression.
Which was weird. I knew for a fact she’d grown up here.
If she’d always wanted to go, why hadn’t she?
“Don’t worry. No hookups,” she teased, punching me playfully in the arm. “It would just be as friends.”
Fantastic. She just friend-zoned me.
The thought of having my heart destroyed over another woman was exhausting. Which was exactly what would happen if I let her come along. The more I was around her, the harder I’d fall.
“Please?” she asked, her hands pressed together in a prayer pose.
I laced my fingers behind my head, paralyzed between want and self-preservation.
Declan caught my eye and mouthed, Let her come.
I couldn’t deny it would be more fun to experience the Narrows with someone else.
Originally, Boone was supposed to be my plus-one, but he’d come down with the stomach flu and had to stay back in Phoenix.
I’d made the mistake of telling my mom I planned to hike alone.
She’d called me multiple times to express her concern.
“You could fall off a cliff or get lost and run out of water. Or what if there’s a serial killer at the campground?
You know all the weirdos like to hang out at national parks.
” She didn’t appreciate it when I suggested she stop watching so much NCIS and Criminal Minds.
I’d like to say telling her Juliette would be with me might ease her concerns, but I was positive that once she saw her, they’d only increase.
But Juliette was too hopeful, and I was too much of a sucker to say no.
I blew out my breath, knowing my next words might cost everything I had left. “Sure. That could be fun.”
My brain rewarded me with: Good luck getting any sleep tonight with her in the same tent.